No Sugar Coating - Give me your honest opinion about this...

[Wayne 962]

Okay. For those who don't know, I am working on a 101 Projects book right now for the BMW 3-Series. Banking on the success of the 101 Projects book for Porsche 911s, I anticipate this to be a good selling book that will be as useful to BMW 3-Series owners as the 101 book has been to Porsche owners.

My question is this: what would you change about the 101 Porsche book if you could. Are the projects too easy? Too general (hard not to be with 101 of them stuffed in thre). Writing style too corny and hard to read? Photos too fuzzy (I have a much better camera now, than I did 4 years ago).

I'm looking for harsh feedback while I'm actively writing the BMW book. Then again, if you think the 101 Porsche book is great, and the BMW book should closely echo it, then let me know too.

Thanks in advance for your opinion!

-Wayne

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Too general

Writing style too corny and hard to read?

not at all tooo general. it's really a very good dose of the topics.. and you covered the most popular topics.

Style shows more that routine text. I think in conveys a personal interest in being part of each projects.
whatever...

[layzee]

A very small thing but a lot of the terms you use are very 'American'. (e.g. This will run you $xxx, 'tinware', 'tab' etc) Not a problem for me hanging out on Pelican all the time, but perhaps you could do as the Haynes manuals do and provide a translation for technical terms (e.g. fender = wing).

I expect you want to make it accessible to the widest range of English speakers so I think this would be a good idea.

[Wayne 962]

Okay, valid point, although I think that most US readers think the Haynes manuals don't make sense a lot of the time. Like, what is a bonnet? Isn't that what little bo peep wears?



-Wayne

[Doog]

I prefer the term bonnet.. I thought a Hood was what Little Red Riding Hood wore..

[rzepko6194]

Just put an 'English' to 'American' translation page in the book. ;-)

[jwmc1]

I think the book is great, I refer to it often. The only thinkg I would change is that the engine rebuild section shouln't be in thebook. The engine rebuild is far to involved to devote only a few pages to. I also own your engine rebuilding book, which is excellent. If someone is to rebuild their engine and needs a book they should have a more detailed reference.

Keep up the great work! We appreciate it!

[sundaypunch]

My only comment would be to add more photos. Some of the tech. articles on this site are very helpful as they have photos of many of the steps of the procedure. For the average person that hasn't performed the repair this is great.

I'm guessing that it would be more costly to publish a book as you add more photos. I would love to have a companion DVD with the 101 Projects book that had hi-resolution pic's.

[fireant911]

I will strongly second sundaypunch's recommendation for the companion cd - that was the primary driver in my decision to purchase Wayne's "How to Rebuid and Modify Porsche 911 Engines". I understand you have a limited number of pages available in book form and offering the cd was a stroke of genius.

[Pat S]

torque specification lists for all the projects, maybe like the apendix in the engine rebuild book.

[VaSteve]

Being completely honest, since you asked....
I would not consider some of the 101 Projects "projects" - such as the one on customizing, or washing the car. Also, not all projects can be performed on any one car (can tune the carbs on CIS for example) so I'll never complete all 101. I'm just bustin balls here really...

I think it's a great book, the photos are very helpful, though certain projects could have used more (probably affecting the layout). Also, telling people to refer to other books (Haynes manual for Spark Plug reading for example) is a real bother.

It's been a long time since I worked on my own cars before launching into owning/breaking/fixing one of the greatest marques around. I would have probably never attempted fixing things myself without the book and this site.

[89911]

I've just done a few projects. Removed and am reinstalling my engine in my car and finished my brothers car for clubracing. With his car, we did a complete reworking of the car from the tub up including all suspension, brakes, interior, trim, glass, fenders, etc., In preperation, I bought both of your books and already had the Bentley. After completion, the Bentley manual is filthy and the project books look new. It seem your books have a quick learning curve and are informative when new to 911's but you quickly need more information that is quick to find and in detail. Of course your book is not setup to be a repair manual. I would consider it a great tool for someone that is new to car maintenance and just purchased a 911 to get their feet wet in working on their car. In this "tuner crazed" period now, everyone want more power. Sticking to this theory should interest at least a few.

[dickster]

i agree.

i see at as an "ideas" book rather than "heres how you do it". not enough info to see jobs through - which i think would improve it.

still like flickin through it.

[fuelie600]

I think the book has a good variety of projects ranging from easy to difficult.

I would agree with the above on engine rebuilds, and washing the car.

The only problem I had with the book was lack of G50 detail, and too much focus on the 915. If you ever do and update, you might want to detail both boxes.

Great book....(no sugarcoat)

[911SCfanatic]

I second Pat S on having all of the torque values needed...maybe also referencing the size fastener at the same time. You could put it in an appendix so it doesn't slow down the reader.

[masraum]

The only change that I would make, and I don't know if this will apply to the 3-series, is to at least describe, if not add a picture, how a particular project might be different due to optional equipment or model change.

For instance, you detail the front strut change in the SC for Bilsteins. I think more of the target readers probably have Boge struts stock which are quite different. You obviously don't necessarily need to double up all of the info for Boges, but if you could descibe the differences briefly or maybe just get one shot of a Boge that is coming apart. Lots and lots of people on the board get confused about if they are doing things correctly when all of that oil starts pouring out. Sometimes a disclaimer about other cars being similar is ok, but in some instances it's a tad inadequate.

Other than that it's perfect. I'd ask when you were going to do the same for miatas, but I think there may already be one out for them.

[Tspringer]

The 101 projects book was too generic and did not provide for differences between various year models. I look at as more of a casual reading type thing to get a feel of whether you want to tackle something, not an actual "how too" guide.

Example: Installing an MSD. The 101 projects book gives you wire by wire quick explanation.... that is totally worthless unless you have a 911SC. I have a '69 911S and the color wires in the description dont exist on my car. The 101 projects instructions, for my car, are worthless.

The book should be.... 101 projects for your 911SC or 3.2 Carrera.

The book should have little boxed off sections showing differences in wiring on different models. It should also have a color wiring diagram for every year model being covered in the book. The idea on torque values plus torque conversions is great as well. Also.... list some troubleshooting tips for each project associated with likely problems.


Terry

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Wayne,

I agree with the companion CD idea! Photos are good and it is hard to have too many. I wish there were a few more in the current version of 101.

[chrisp]

Like any other service manual type book I would like to see it lay open by itself. It's probably an expensive proposition but a spiral bound book would be more practical for this sort of thing.

Also, for coffee table use the glossy pages are great butfor garage use it should be more dirt resistant.

The paper style isn't as critical as the binding. I really need to handle the book quite a bit to get it to lay flat. When I am in the middle of a project and need to flip the page and then manhandle it again it gets real dirty, real fast.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on you expectations with a book of this type within the BMW crowd. Of the BMW events that I do (only way I can do DE's with my bro) there are fewer DIY'ers than what I typically see at Porsche Club events. Of course, maybe this is offset by the fact that there are more BMWs on the road than Porsches and the demand will still be strong eventhough per cent turn out is lower. Also, the majority of the cars at the events I go to are often less than 10 yrs old and are more complex than, say, a pre-94 911 and the customers seem to prefer a shop or dealer rather than DIY. They also seem to be a more foofy crowd and prefer the label of a BMW driver than the label of a BMW DIYer. Maybe it's just the folks that I see and I am off base in this regard. These are just my observations and the numbers you see in your day-to-day business probably suggest otherwise and thus the need for the book.

[jhelgesen]

I'll agree with the torque specs for each project. The engine book has all the torques listed, but they are in the back of the book (more greasy finger prints). Better yet, a nice laminated pull out we can post in the shop with all the torque specs listed. Might be a good item to sell separate.